Window cleaner



Dec. 4, 1928. 7 1,694,245

G. L. BAKER ET AL WINDOW CLEANER Filed May 19, 1926 Gamma Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GILBERT L. BAKER AND HELEN W. PATTILLO, 0F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

WINDOW CLEANER.

Application flied May 19, 1926. Serial No. 110.222.

This invention relates to a window cleaner adapted for use in connection with ordinary window sash, glass door panels, Windshields for automobiles and other structures comprising a plate or pane of glass that requires cleaning at intervals.

The main object of the invention is to mount a window cleaner in connection with the frame or holding means for a plate or pane of glass, and locate the main cleaning elements exteriorly of the glass plate, and to include means in the cleaner structure that will permit the improved device to be effectively moved over the glass plate or pane so as to remove therefrom accumulations of dust, dirtand other matter, in order that the glass or pane may be clear for vision therethrough.

A further object of the invention is to provide a window cleaner which will conform to the shape or general contour of the plate or pane of glass and closely engage the glass contour so as to thoroughly clean angular corners, small curvatures or other configurations. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a cleaner which may be placed in such position when not in use as not to obscure clear vision through the plate or pane of glass to which the improved device is applied.

With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists 1n the preferred constructionand arrangement of the several parts which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the outer side of a glass plate shown held in an angular frame, the cleaner being illustrated in full lines in operative position and in dotted lines in inoperative position.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the frame and glass plate or pane as shown by Fig. 1 and illustrating the improved cleaner in the normal position it will be caused to assume when not in use.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the main or cleaning member of the improved cleaner and a portion of the controlling lever therefor shown on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section on the lines 4-4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the several parts of a joint formed in the main cleaning member and including portions of the tubular arm forming an essential element of the cleaner.

The numeral 5 designates a tubular arm which constitutes the main element of the improved cleaner, the said arm having a lower slot or opening 6 formed therein The arm 5 may be of any length to correspond to the area of the pane or plate of glass to which it is applied, and in some instances the greater non-flexing portion 5 of the arm 5 may be sutlicient to engage and cover the lass or pane during the cleaning operation, t is con dition being dependent on the contour of the frame or holding means for the pane or plate. To render the improved cleaner practically complete, it is preferred that it be intermediately jointed, to form a flexing jointed section 5 of such length as to fully engage all parts of the pane or plate of lass and clean .angular corners or other configurations, or,

in other words, to closely follow the contour of the pane or plate of glass in accordance with the shape of the frame or other holding means in which the said pane or plate is mounted. The arm 5 with its extension 5 is pivotally mounted at one extremity and has a bracket plate 7 shown secured in the present instance to the one lower corner of the frame 8 wherein the glass plate or pane 9 is mounted The bracket plate 7 has an arcuate projection 10' which lies against one side of the lower end of the arm 5 and is secured thereto by a suitable fastening means 11. Extending through the corner of the frame 8 to which the bracket plate 7 is secured is a shaft 12 having a knob or operating grip means 13 secured to its inner end and having its outer end formed with a square or angular terminal 14. The fastening means 11 which extends through the extension 10 and lower end of the arm 5, serves as a pivot or fulcrum means for the said arm, and mounted on the squared or angular end 14 of the shaft is the lower terminal end of a lever 15, which has an opening 16 therethrough corresponding to the contour of the said end 14 of the shaft. This lever 15 extends over the same side of the arm 5 as the extension 10 of the plate 7 and has a terminal engaging means consisting of a yoke 17 which embraces the said arm and serves to give the latter a movement or sweeping operation in opposite directions during cleaning of the pane or plate of glass. During the operation of the arm 5 it is free to swing in opposite directions without restriction, as the lower end of the arm is clear of the corner or other portion of the frame adjacent thereto, as shown by Fig. 2. lVithin the tubular arm 5, including the main member 5 and extension 5", is a felt or rubber cleaner 18, which has a cleaning projection 19 extending through the slot or opening 6 in the said arm as a whole, this .felt or rubber cleaning filling with its projection 19 being made in two parts, that is to say, the portion thereof which is fitted in the extension 5" is separate from the portion thereof which is inserted in the main member 5 of the arm, so that there will be no restriction to lateral flexing movement of the said extension 5". The extension 5 is normally held in longitudinal alinement with the main member 5 of the arm 5 through the medium of a flat spring 20, which is held in outwardly projecting clips 21 and 22, respectively connected to the main member 5 and the extension 5*. This spring 20 serves to return the extension 5 to normal position when released from contact with the inner edge or perimeter of the frame or holding means for the plate or pane of glass, and, when the distance between the fulcrum point 11 and the inner edge or perimeter of the frame is less than the combined length of the main member 5 and extension 5 of the arm 5, the said extension will flex or turn either towards one side or the other in accordance with the movement of the said arm 5 when the shaft 12 and lever 15 are actuated by the knob or other gripping means 13.

The joint between the outer end of the main member 5 of the arm 5 and extension 5 consists of a clip 23 secured to the main member 5 and having a forwardly extending disk projection 24 with a central opening 25 therein, the said clip being securely fastened to the main member 5 at a distance from the outer end thereof. The inner end of the extension 5 is formed with a disk pro jection 26 having a central opening 27 and overlapped by the disk projection 24 of the clip 23 with the openings 25 and 27 in registration, the two disk projections being pivotally connected by a pin 28 inserted through an opening 29 in the main member 5 and also through a cap disk 30 which covers the overlapping disks 24 and 26. The pin 28 is securely fastened by a nut 31 applied to the upper end thereof and tightly screwed against the said cap disk.

The improved cleaner is applied against the outer side of the plate or ane of glass with which it is to operate and the knob or grip means 13 is located at the inner side of the lower portion of the frame 8. The extension 5" will, when the main member 5 is actuated, conform to the contour of the inner portion or perimeter of the frame or holding means for the plate or pane of glass 9 without requiring any manual adjustment or specialmanualoperation. VVhentheimproved cleaner is in an inactive or inoperative position, it is disposed as shown'in dotted lines by Fig. 1, so t lat the plate or pane of glass is unobstructed or clear for vision therethrough. The cleaning felt or rubber 18 may be easily replaced when worn to such an extent as to be ineffective to perform its function, and the projection 19 is always held in firm cont-act with the side of the plate or pane of glass with which it is intended to operate. While it is preferred, from a practical standpoint, to apply the improved device in connection with the outer side of a plate or pane of glass in view of the fact that said side is generally subject to a greater uncleanly condition,.it will be understood that the improved cleaner may be applied in other positions or to the inner side of the plate or pane of glass if such application is desirable. The arm 5 as a whole, including the main member 5 and the extension 5", will be formed of suitable non-corrosive metal of sutlicicnt thickness to render the same practical in operation, and in fact all of the improved cleaner will be of metal except the cleaning felt or rubber 18.

From the foregoing the operation of the improved cleaner will be readily understood. The shaft 7 is rotated in opposite directions by correspondingly turning the knob or grip means 13, and through the action of the lever 15 the arm 5, comprising the main member 5 and extension 5", will be oscillated over the plate or pane of glass in opposite directions, the extension 5" automatically accommodating itself to the restrictions that may be set up by the difference in distance between the pivotal or fulcrum point 11 of the said arm and various portions of the inner perimeter of the frame or holding means for the plate or pane of glass. Durin the movement of the arm 5 the free'end of the extension 5 will move closely to the inner perimeter of the frame or holding means for the plate or pane of glass and thereby thoroughly cleanse or remove dust dirt or other matter that may have adhered to the said plate or pane. The lever 15 transmits the movement of the shaft 12 to the arm 5, and thus said lever acts as a direction-controlling means relatively to the movement of the said arm and also in effect reduces wearing strain on the pivotal fulcrum means for the arm 5. During lateral flexing movement of the extension 5", the spring 20 will tend at all times to restore said extension 5 to normal position when released from, or free of contact with, restricting portions of the inner perimeter of the frame or holding means for the glass plate or pane.

It is obvious that modifications in the proportions and general dimensions of the improved cleaner may be made to adapt the same for use with plates or panes of glass of va departing invention.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a window cleaner of the class specified, an

for oscillation on one corner of dimensions without in the least from the nature or spirit of the a window sash, a terminal extension pivoted to the arm th and freely movable in opposite directions in the plane of the arm, a cleaner held in the arm and extension and lprojecting therefrom to engage the window ass, and a flat spring extendin longitudinally from the arm and connecte to the extension and normally tending to turn the extension to normal longitudinal alinement with the arm.

2. In a window cleaner of the class specified, an arm adapted to be pivotally mounted adjacent one of its ends for oscillation on one lower corner of a window sash, an extension pivoted to the other end disc projection carried by the arm adapted to be pivotally mounted th of the arm, the pivot organization of the arm and exon comprising a rearwardly extendin extension and a complemental disc pro ection carried by e arm for engagement with the first named disc projection, a pivot extending through 0 said arm and disc projections, a cap (1180 applied over the said disc projections and he d by the ivot, the arm and extension having longitudinal slots, a cleaning device held in and projecting from the slots of the arm and extension to engage the glass, and aflat spring means extending longitudinally over and engaging both the arm and extension.

testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

I GILBERT L. BAKER.

HELEN w. PATTILLO. 

